The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-14
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UNIQUE GOVERNMENT.
How Discipline is Maintained In n Call
fOrnin ,prlson on n StufnnclliCal lBustR. &

How Discipline is Maintained In n Call
4 fornia Prison on n Stomnchical Isasls. Il
3 To those who arc unacquaintcd with
the methods Of prison discipline, visit
TO the branch prison at Folsom is full OF
interest. TO see tho GOO prisoners at
work in and around those quarries, one
wonders byswhat mems men who are
convicted of NIL crimes known to our
laws behave so cxcellcntly and work
wi,ha degree OF industry that would be
creditablc to any walk Of life. Six hun.
drcd men funmanacled, unclaimed; out.
side of tho prison walls, with nothing to
Indicate that they were prisoners except
/ their stripcdfelons' suits, working away
with will, performing an honest days
labor and apparently proud of the result
of their toll, is sight to the
visitor totally unexpected. Men who
never in n free state did an honest
days work-forgcrs, burglars, 4 high
3&nyman, mur,tcrcrs-vic with each
other TO sec who can do the most,
and strive TO and do accomplish as good
work us that turned out by free skilled
labor. These men are of MI ages, from n
youth of sixteen to men bowed down by
three score years and tcn--mcu whose
sentences range from one to fifty-ilvc
years, while others have been sentenced
! for life, What is still more remarkable,
( the "lifetimers," as they are called, are
said to be the most contcnted and best
workers, and those who in free state are
lazy; indolcnt and averse to labor of any
kind arc the most reliable and industri-
! Gus. The secret of NIL this is the fact
that the quality and service of their
food and the limited privileges they
enjoy, are dependent upon their be.
/ hayior and the amount and quality of the
labor they perform. The eating depart
5mcnt of the prison is divided into
three grades, and is designated by the
prisoners us the "bean table," "bull beef
and "mutton chop The dining room for
!: the "bean table" is fitted up with tables
consisting Of q single board about ten
inches wide, upon which, about every
three feet, is securely nailed tin dish
containing pepper and salt. Tho beans
and other rough food arc served on tin
plates, and knives and forks arc not pro.
vilcd. The food is wholesome, but it
must be eaten in the most primitive style,
and the prisoners are not allowed to
speak 10 one another during meal time.
3All new prisoners are placed at the "bcan
table," and it is not until their excellent
conduct and industry commend them
TO tho management that they! arc pro-
noted to the "bull-bccf table" Here the
j fare is more varied, the prisoners arc
seated at tables furnished with whole
some beef, vegetables, etc. This is quite n
: step in advance of The a".bean table, y and
many prisoners y never get beyond
Z IT.. Tho if"mutton.chop table" Is the
height of tho prisoners ambition. Here
4 he is seated at n regular dining-ta !;
he has a full complement of dishes,
though all are of tin he Inns n knife and
fork; the table is furnished with casters ;
{ no has mutton stew, stewcd beef, meats
lin variety, vegetables in season, and he is
allowed to converse freely with his fcl-
lows. It is n distinction he Is proud of,
Jonc that he has worked hard to obtain,
md ono that he will maintain no matter
how hard the struggle. The prisoners
are treated kindly; the chop"
men arc shown great consideration by tho
officers, md from this class little or no
trouble is ever experienced, for mn infrac-
7 ton Of the rules sends them to the ;"bean.
table" from which they tndit diillcultto
again obtain what they have lost.-sacraat.:
{ nent0 Record Union, y, "a Z, 1 sss57 "a q